Book Review – Eden by Jamie McGuire

Eden (book #3 in the Providence series)
Note: While I tried to keep this review spoiler free (and tried not to talk too much about what happens in this one, exactly), I would recommend those who are new to the series to not read this review yet. Instead, check out my review for book#1 (and the reading order: Providence Trilogy Reading Order).  

*squeeeeeee!!!* For those of you who have read this, y’all already know why I’m squee-ing!! The magnificent Jamie McGuire sent me a review copy, and I was delightfully surprised when *ahem* “Aunt Maryse” attended a certain bea-u-ti-ful wedding, in this very book. —–> ME!!! I’m “Aunt Maryse”!! <—– I couldn’t help but grin like crazy and giggle and point it out to my husband like… a million times when I read my “cameo”. Tee hee! I mean.. okay maybe it’s not “me” per se… it is Jared’s aunt (from his human side), but still. How. Cool. Is. That!?

So exciting!! Living vicariously through a character and I was lucky ’cause I didn’t even have to partake in all of the dangerous demon-fightin’ stuff. Mind you, I think I would have kicked-butt helpin’ out with that too, but you know. Us humans just gotta let the angels do what they gotta do for the good of all mankind. But… I do love weddings. I hope my dress was pink. I bet it was! Maryse loves pink. Bet ya didn’t know that about me, did you? *smirk*

Yep. This morning I woke up, got ready for work, and when my husband proceeded to ask me if I had finished “Eden”, I gave him a full on 15 minute synopsis. Starting with book 1 (the *huge* love story and love triangle). All the angst… the delicious drama. The stay-away-if you-know-what’s-good-for-you situation. The whole… “we were never meant to be, and this is going against all I was trained for” love affair.

Our love, in all it’s imperfection, was perfect.

*sigh* I LOVED the tension!!  Especially when the “other” possibility might be the more likely option, if you factor in fate. Destiny that is put into question, and all that.

And then the whole thing with that evil book. The one that started Nina’s whole world into a life of protection, angels and demons surrounding her and her having no clue of any of it, until she loses her father. Her protector (who hired her *other* protector), and essentially, the catalyst that drove her world into the poop-storm it has suddenly become.

“Jack knew the moment she was born she was in danger of being the woman in the prophecy. When you fell in love with her, Son, we knew it was a matter of when, not if. We were fighting time and fate… an impossible task. Still, Jack loved his daughter, and he wanted to do everything in his power to try and keep her from that path. We knew there was a chance the book could help us find a loophole, so we took it.”

And then of course, there’s this “dark cloud” prophesy that they just can’t shake. What does it mean? Who, if any of them, will survive? How will this change heaven and hell?

I frowned. “Are you here to keep me captive?”

Bex mirrored my expression. “No, Paranoid Schizo. Your guardian-slash-almost husband is across the island, and you and your unborn baby are two of Hell’s Most Wanted. I’m here to keep you safe.”

So many questions, so many answers, and yet they just kept opening up more of  “Pandora’s box” the more the prophesy becomes reality.

All of that culminating to me “ker-plowing” and “Hi-yah’ing” and drop kicking the air around me, while I suddenly became Nina in front of my husband’s perplexed eyes, explaining to him that she is now front row and center in the demon ass-kicking world, and has a few moves of her own.

And then how it ends. I ummm… acted that part out too. A certain OMG freakout (that, by the way, had me so upset)… and then another kind of freakout.

Yep. I acted them both. Hehe. *blush*

My husband’s reaction?

“Okaaaaayyyy then. No more coffee for you.”

and then…

“Too bad I didn’t get this all on video. We could have totally put this up as a video review on YouTube.”

What-What-Whaaaat!!? HECK NO!! (oh he so would have, too!)

So I read this one all day yesterday, and quite enjoyed all of the action-packed adventure. This is one character I so enjoyed “being” while reading book #1, and yet… a bit glad I didn’t have to endure everything she had to, further into the series. Being the “key” and a part of a world altering prophesy and all. All of the attempts on her life, the threats to her friends, the loss. The devastating effect that the prophesy could have on the only thing that brings her solace; (her relationship with a certain guardian angel that just might not be her “meant to be”).

BreAnn: Have read Providence and Requiem in the last 24 hrs!! So addicted…. Forcing myself to sleep so I can give my full attention to Eden in the am! Excited to read your review, Maryse!

Hehe!! Yep.

Does it end well? I’ll let you find out. I still have a few questions… because the world and the “meaning of it all” is vast, and can get complicated. I wonder if there’ll be a spinoff *hint hint*? But overall lemme just say that it if you enjoy a little heaven and hell drama, good vs. bad, with angels, demons, rules and “celestial regulations”, fair vs, unfair and humanity’s choices… oh and!! an angst-y love affair (or 2), then this series is for you! And while it *is* considered YA, there is still much of that emotional, romantic intensity that propels the reader past all of the darker, scarier, moments, and keeps us sighing with heartfelt tenderness. A good conclusion to the trilogy!

Interested in the series? Check out the reading order, here: Jamie McGuire – Providence Trilogy Reading Order

3.5 stars